On the Boston Bruins …
Joe Haggerty of CSNNE: Bruins GM Don Sweeney has had some talks with RFA David Pastrnak‘s agent and things appear to be going in the right direction.
“ J.P. and I have sat down, we’ve had some good discussions,” Sweeney said to reporters in Buffalo at the combine. “It’s moving in the right direction. Timeline, I don’t have. But we expect to complete a deal and for him to be a longtime member of the Boston Bruins. That’s our intention.”
One short-term comparable could be Nikita Kucherov and his three-year, $14.3 million bridge deal. Pastrnak could look for a Artemi Panarin two-year bridge deal at $12 million if going short-term.
The Bruins and Pastrnak could be looking at doing a five- or six-year deal, maybe longer.
Long-term deal comparables could be Johnny Gaudreau (six years at $6.75 million per), Sean Monahan (seven years at $6.38 million per), Filip Forsberg (six years at $6 million per) or Vladimir Tarasenko (eight year at $7.5 million).
Joe Haggerty of CSNNE: (mailbag) The Bruins badly need a top-six left winger that can score. They could also use a top-four left defenseman.
They could fill the left winger internally, but thinks that they’ll trade for a defenseman. Trade options could be Jonas Brodin, Sami Vatanen, Tyson Barrie or Matthew Dumba.
They need to be okay with moving a first round pick, Ryan Spooner and maybe even Frank Vatrano or other prospects.
They could be looking to move forwards like Spooner and Jimmy Hayes, and maybe defenseman Adam McQuaid.
doesn’t think the Bruins are in the market to overpay for a free agent to fill one of their holes. Don’t think they’d want to be committed long-term to someone like Karl Alzner.
If looking at free agents, should look for the bargain ones like the Riley Nash and Dominic Moore types they did last offseason.
Andy Strickland: The Bruins told Zach Rinaldo won’t be qualified.
